PUSH

US, 2009, 111 minutes, Colour.
Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Neil Jackson.
Directed by Paul Mc Guigan.

The X Men films, The Matrix films and Asian martial arts films have all had their influence on trends in action shows as well as offering some kind of broadly mystical atmosphere. This is definitely the case with Push, one of those science-fiction fantasies that draws on all kinds of other films and does not quite make it to the level of itself being a film that will have an influence. For one thing, it is not always so easy to follow and with an assortment of characters who spend a lot of time chasing each other and employing different powers to elude capture, nodding off could be a comprehension hasard (although one of the Hong Kong agents has the power of squealing/screaming to burst eardrums).

What makes it more complicated to follow is that some of the powers are contradictory. Some people can see the future. Others can implant imagination and false memories, so one has to be alert as to what might be happening to the hero (Chris Evans) who is in love with a woman who seems to be the victim of the organisation that is experimenting with these powers (Camilla Belle) but who may also be an agent who willingly submitted to experiments. (Come to think of it, this is quite like the plot of the film, Cypher, with Jeremy Northam). Then there is a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who can see some of the future and draws it (not very artistically) and who is being pursued by Chinese agents and a boss (Djimon Housou).

That was an attempt to clarify – but it may not do the trick!

Otherwise, most of the action is set in Hong Kong and the actors do their best and the special effects team have a field day.

1.A post-Matrix science fiction film? Popular? Difficult to follow? The credits and the history background for the film?

2.An ordinary world yet a different world, parallel world? Characters and situations in the two worlds? The American background, the Hong Kong settings and the use of the settings? The city, apartments, buildings, the streets, markets? The musical score? The style of photography, colour and darkness?

3.The set design, costumes and décor, the action sequences, special effects, stunts?

4.The information about the alternate world, authorities, the experiments? How credible? In science fiction conventions?

5.The different types and their roles? Certainties and uncertainties? The use of false memories and their being planted? The consequences?

6.The opening, Nick, his father being taken, Nick on the run? Going to Hong Kong, hiding there?

7.Nick’s story, his being a Mover, telekinetic powers, weak, trying to develop them? The role of the Division, in charge of the research, searching for Nick? Nick and his relationship with Kira? Carver and his pursuit, his henchmen? The confrontations? The injections? Discovering Kira? Cassie and being on the run with her?

8.Kira, awaking in Hong Kong, a victim of the experiments or a collaborator? The pursuit? Her being a Pusher? Manipulation, inserting of memories? The relationship with Nick – the visit to Coney Island? True or false? The injections? Carver and his pursuing her, the false memories, the collaboration with Carver? Her planting false memories in the guards and their killing one another? Carver killing himself?

9.Cassie, her age, dress, tough? Her being a Watcher? Prophetic, seeking Kira, seeking Nick? The words from her mother about finding the man and knowing it? The nature of her sketches, her visions, their changing? The pursuit by the Chinese? Her working with Nick?

10.The Chinese crime family, at home in Hong Kong, their paranormal behaviour, the pursuit, their activities, in the skyscraper, fights and deaths?

11.Carver, his being a Pusher? His authority in the Division? Killing Nick’s father, pursuing Nick, the confrontation, the injections for Kira? Telling Kira about her false memories? Her being his partner? The issue of the drug substitution, Carver being deceived?

12.The syringe, Kira hiding, the drug, the extra paranormal possibilities with the drug? Nick and Cassie, the drug, the decoy?

13.The mystery of Cassie’s mother, being imprisoned, the set-up, her warning Cassie to find Nick?

14.Victor, the agents, their pursuits, powers, false memories and killing each other?

15.How interesting the complexity of the plot? Parallel worlds? Ideas and imagination?